Ok, I also had some major issues. lost a few critical hours. Started on testing the new drivers - here's a couple pics:
I was goin nuts - the computer would not even recognize the USBASP - no red light, nothing. I did tons of things, power rests, tried other USB connectors, order a cable and new USB hub. Stupid me left in the driver all this time. I removed the cables form the USBASP and it recognized the dongle. Eventually tracked it down to the one driver board. Lok carefully at the MTN driver in the lower left - see anything wrong?
Well, there's actually 2 solder grounds - right side of the cap, and where the "3" is in the upper left -- there's actually 2 small pads solder over in a blob. Fixed the shorts, and all works now. Also tricky is the Schottky diode above the MCU is tight to the 85 pins. On two of these boards, I actually had to hot air reflow the diode again and give it a little nudge away from the MCU. I can't blame Richard for this, because the 85 is quite a big chip, and even with bending the pins practically under the chip still barely catch's the pads.
For the hot air reflow station, I bought this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XTK1JMG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1. $46 shipped is pretty good. I use it on the lowest fan settings. I prefer it separate from the soldering iron. I only move it to be work area when needed. Dunno if this is the best way, but I would never trade down from my Hakko. There's no way I can solder as well as I do without that Hakko.
Anyways, in the detail pic above, you can see where my replacement parts are. I think RMM nailed the design for stable performance from the 24/45/85's. With the tiny 402 FET gate pulldown, and the addition of the zener, I believe he greatly reduced the spikes going in to the MCU, I believe caused by the FET gate.
I also like he gave us a pad (tiny one) off of pin #3, which I use for the indicator LED.
Ohhh - I ran out of SIR800DP FET's, and getting low on 85's, so got in my order with Richard before they went out on vaca -- glad I got that in. Also just had to add another SupFire L5. They apparently changed the switch since the last ones I ordered - it looks much better. Like to see how good it is. The old L5 had a small switch that was a hard press - the new one looks easy, more like an SRK -- I'll see soon enough.